Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-01
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
A TRAVELLERS NOTES WHILE IN
THE HAWAIIAN GROUP.

Names and Area of the Principal
Islands-DelightfuI Climate and Rich
Soil-Indolent People and Their Social
Customs-FOod Products.
The Hawaiian islands are the most ocean
isolated portion of the inhabited globe. They
constitute group of eight inhabited and four
uninhabited islands. They are situated in
the Pacific ocean in latitude 10 degs. to 20
degs. north, and longitude LIS degs to l60
degs west. From Honolulu, the capital and
principal city of the group, located on the
island of Oahu, the distance to San Francisco
I'm round numbers) is 2,le0 miles; to Yoko-
homa, Japan, 3.400; to Hong Kong, China,
1900 and 10 Sydney, Australia, 4,500.
The names and area of the inhabited islands
are Hawaii 4,200 square miles; Maui, 760;
Ouhu, 600; Kauai, $50; Molokai, 270; Lauai,
$50; Kahoolawe, 63, and Nihau, 97-Hawaii
being nearly double the area of all the other
islands combined They are clearly volcanic
in their origin, the most western island, in the
opinion of biologists, having been first thrown
up, then the one next east of it, and follow
ing in order, to Hawaii, the most eastern,
which is to-day in an unfinished state, power
full volcanic forces being still actively at work
there
Though within the torrid cone, the climate
is temperate rather than tropical. am told
there is no word in the native language ex-
preSsive of the idea of weather, evidence that
extremes of heat and cold are unknown
During ten years at Honolulu the highest and
lowest temperatures in the shade, according
| to published official record, were 80 degs. and
| 53 degs., the greatest change within twenty
four hours being IL degs As the islands are
mountainous, rising in the interior to an
elevation of 600, 5000, I2, 600 and Mauna
| kea i'll Hawaii to IA, 600 feet, every kind of
| climate may lie found, from that of perpetual
Summer to thai of eternal winter. The trade
winds blow nine months of the year, temper
| ing the heat and imparting freshness and
| salubrity to the atmosphere of the lowldnds
| along the coast. The climate is claimed to be
very healthful. There are heavy rainfalls
during certain months of the year-much
| heavier on the windward than on the leeward
| side of the islands At Hilo on the east coast
| of Hawaii, it is said eighteen feet of rain have
| fallen in single year.
The soil is decomposed lava and sand, and
| is generally thin and poor. In the valleys
| and plains along the base of the mountains,
| whose dislntegration and accumulation of
| vegetable mold have gone on for ages, there
are tracts of great fertility. Here the sugar
| cane flourishes, and extensive plantations are
! devoted exclusively to its growth. The sugar
| industry is the principal agricultural interest
| of the islands, rice standing second. Fine
| pasturage is abundant, and large herds of
| cattle, horses, sheep and goats are bred and
fattened in the upland valleys On the
| higher slopes of Hawaii wild horses, cattle
and hogs abound, and here adventurous
| sportsmen find occupation and excitement in
| hunting them. These horses and cattle are
! the descendants Of those brought here by
| Europeans, which from time to time have es-
| capped, and have rapidly multiplied; but the
| hogs are indigenous. There are extensive
| forest, but the most valuable timber. sandal
! wood, once abundant has become almost en-
tirely exhausted. Fruits of great variety and
| excellence grow spontaneously. Among these
are the banana, plantain, cocoanut, candle
nut, bread fruit, guava, pineapple, orange,
lemon, lime, mango, papia and many Others.
Sweet potatoes, yanls, beans, peas and other
| garden vegetables flourish Strawberries are
| plentiful and cheap. We have had them
|
| ten weeks we have been here.
The most important articles of food for the
natives is taro 1t is a tuber resembling some
what in form the beet 1t grows in both dry
and wet soil, is very prolific. is prepared for
table in variety of ways, and is the staple
| food for all classes. From it is made the ma
tional dish, par excellence, poi, which consti
tutes fully four-fifths the support of the Haw
aiians 1t is said that forty feet square OF
land planted with taro will afford subsistence
for one person whole year; and square
mile will feed II ,427 persons the same length
of time
The Hawaiians belong to the Malayo- Poly
nesian race They are of light brown com
| plexion, have broad faces, prominent lips
fiat noses, full chins, with straight, black hair
and light boards They are of good size, art
well formed, quick in movement and gener'
| ally muscular and strong. They are said to
be very fond of stilnuiants, and when oppor
| tunity offers often drink to excess; but they
are rarely quarrelsome even under the in
fluence of liquor. They are good natured
hight hearted, careless, indoent, pleasure low
| ing people; are improvidcnt, thoughtless about
the future and generous to a fault They
are very sympathetic and kind, are capable
| of warm friendships and strong attachments
They are gregarious, great takers, and much
given to all social pleasures-music, dancing
feasting, etc.
Few of them possess wealth, few are pool
and none are beggars They are said for
merly to have been extremely hcentious, mol
are their morals, in this particular, of tbs
best even now. They love gay colors, ant
are much given to decorating themselves will
wreaths and garlands of flowers. Many O
the women are stout, inclining to corpulency
which is poorly concealed by the dress uni
versally worn by them, the holoka, carmen
at one time much favored by certain Ameri
can women, and known as the Mother Hub
bard" Leprosy prevails, and the govern
ment has established settlement on tn
Island of Molokai, to which all the unfortu
nate class are banished. The settlemen
numbers about 900 souls.
Nearly all Hawaians can read and write
There are good government schools, with fire.
compulsory education In the common
schools instruction is given in the nativ
language, but in the higher grades English i
taught Under the teachings and influence
of the missionaries large numbers were earl.
converted to Christianity. They are still
liberal supporters of the gospel. The princi
pal churches are the Congregational, Baptis
and Cathohc.-Cor. Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette
A Question of Manners.
Omaha Mamma reading)-"Mayt the angel
shower Il, ,essin-s upou YOU forever and ever,